Collision recorder



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,800

T. TAYLOR COLLI SION RECORDER Filed NOV. 16, 1926 .INVEN T01? ATTOR/V5115 Feb. 12, 1929. 1,701,800

T. TAYLOR COLLI S ION RECORDER Filed Nov. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .w.'P

I a g o o: I

INVENI'OR 720mm" Ikylor A TORNZYS' i Glihll 1M invention has to do withthe collection and recordation of evidence in collision cases, and more.specifically refers to the securing of such evidence in accidents inwhich automotive vehicles are involved. I

more specifically this invention resides in the provision of meanswhereby accidental impact will automatically cause a record of theimpact to be made photographically.

The essence of the invention lies in the provision of the contactmembers and electrical connections whereby impact causes the closing ofan electrical circuit, which in turn actuates devices for taking apicture of the results of the accident. The invention also contemplatesthe provision of means whereby the scene of the accident shall beproperly illuminated at the moment of the photographic exposure in theevent the accident occurs at a time When there is such an absence ofactinic light as to not insure a proper exposure without suchillumination.

The specific means by which the invention is carried out, will be setout at length in the following specification, in which special referencewill be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the rear portion of anautomobile equipped with my invention;

Fig. 1 shows one feature of the invention namely a detail of theilluminating means;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bumper arrangement employed in myinvention with which is a diagram ofthe wiring circuit used; and

Fig. 3 is a detail partly in section, of the impact switch used incarrying out my invention, thesection being taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.i

Referring to the drawings more specifically, 5 is the body of anautomobile equipped with the customary bumper 6 mounted in the usualmanner on the chassis fname 7. 0n said bumper is flexibly mounted anauxiliary bumper 8 by means of the guide pins 9 and springs 10 and 11.This auxiliary bumper, preferably at each end and midway its length, isprovided with depressions or pockets 12, in which repose the ends ofswitch operating levers 13, of the well known rocking type of electricswitches 14 which will be actuated by either direct pressure on member13, or by a rocking movement of member 13. Each of said switches 1% com-..tion filed November is, 1%

Lio. 348,720.

prises an insulating base 15, to which is attached an annular flangedcontact member 16, electrically and mechanically secured. to bumper 6 bymeans of machine screws as shown or otherwise. The complementary contactmember of the switch consists of a metal disc 17, flexibly supported onthe insulating base 15 by means of a spring 18, one end of which extendsthrough the insulating base 15 opposite a suitable opening in the bumper6 to allow for an electric connection with the switch. The switch lever13 is directly connected with said disc 17 centrally thereof.

Switches 16lcontrol the electric actuating circuit of my invention inthe following manner. @ne terminal of the starting battery 19 isconnected with the chassis frame 7, and so through bumper 6 with contactmember 16 of the several switches 14. The other terminal of the starterbattery 18 is connected through switches 20 and 21 with a circuit whichpasses through a solenoid 22 or an igniter 23 or both and thence tocontact member 17 by way of stud 24 of each of said switches 14.Solenoid 22 is employed to actuate the shutter 25 of the camera 26, theshutter being of that type which when its actuating lever is moved inone direction is heldopen for predetermined interval and then closedautomatically.

The camera 26 is supported on a carrying plate 27 mounted for instancein the top of the automobile. The camera is secured on the carryingplate 27 by a strap 28 or other suitable means. The camera carryingplate 27 has associated therewith a device 29 for carrying a flash-lightcartridge, the same being retained by a spring clip 30 and as statedbefore being in the electrical circuit for one side of the storagebattery.

It will be noted from inspection of Figure 1 that the cartridge shelfacts as a shield for the lens barrel of the camera.

It will further be noted that switches 20 and 21 of the solenoid circuitare so situated that either or both may be closed or opened at the sametime. The object of this provision must be apparent to the personfamiliar with such circuits, namely to provide for the actuation of thecamera in the daytime independently of the flash-light igniter, thisbeing accomplished by closing switch 20 and opening switch 21 and forthe actuation of the camera solenoid and flash-light ignitersimultaneously in the nighttime which is accompanied by closing bothswitches 20 and 21. If it is desired to put both the solenoid andigniter out of action, both switches 20 and 21 are thrown open.

It is believed that the operation of my invention is fully apparent fromthe foregoing specification, however, to facilitate this understandingit may be stated briefly that the operation of my device is asfollows? 1. In daylight driving, switch 20 is closed, thereupon anyimpact with auxiliary bumper 8 will cause a closing of either or all ofswitches 14 thereby actuating solenoid 22 to open shutter 25 therebymaking an exposure. If the automobile is equipped with front, rear, andside devices, it willbe immaterial whether the impact is from front,rear, or either side. In any event an instantaneous record will be madeof the fleeting scene which will be a means of evidence of the collisionthat will receive due consideration in any court.

2. If the automobile is being driven in nighttime, both switches 20 and21 are closed, whereupon the closing of any one of switches 14.- willcause a flash that will properly illuminate the scene of the accident atthe time the camera exposure is made by making a slight adjustment ofsynchronism as between the operation of the solenoid and the operationof the flash that will provide for the illumination at the properinstant.

It will be apparent that the operation of recording means by thebreaking of a closed circuit and thus making a photographic exposurecomes within the purview of my in vention.

It also will be apparent that this invention includes the use of acamera actuated by mechanical means set in motion by impact.

Having thus described by invention in one of its tangible forms, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a vehicle, a camera on said vehicle arranged to takea, picture for record of a collision involving said vehicle, means onthevehicle subject to the impact occasioned by the collision, and meansconnecting the first mentioned means and camera to operate the camerathrough said impact for the taking of said picture.

2. In combination, a vehicle, a camera on said vehicle arranged to takea picture for record of a collision involving said vehicle, electricalmeans to operate the camera for the taking of said picture, saidelectrical means including a switch directly operable through impactoccasioned by the collision.

3. In combination, a vehicleincluding an electric battery in itsequipment, a camera on said vehicle arranged to take a picture forrecord of a collision involving said vehicle, means in circuit with saidbattery to operate the camera for the taking of said picture, said meansincluding a normally open switch directly operable through impactoccasioned by the collision.

4. In combination, a vehicle, a camera on said vehicle arranged to takea picture for record of a collision involving said vehicle, means tooperate the camera for the taking of said picture through impactoccasioned by the collision, a shelf on the vehicle for a flashlightcartridge, means operable through said impact to ignite the cartridge,and said shelf functioning as a shield for the lens barrel of thecamera. I

5. In combination, an automobile, a camera thereon arranged to take apicture for record of a collision involving said automobile, electricalmeans to operate the camera for the taking of said picture, bumper meanson the automobile, a movable means on the bumper means, the lasttwomentioned means constituting a normally open switch forming part of saidelectrical means, and said movable means being directly operable toclose the switch through impact occasioned by the collision.

THOMAS TAYLOR.

